Programing note: CNN's State of the Union with Candy Crowley will have an exclusive interview with Sen. Ted Cruz, this Sunday at 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. ET.

(CNN) – Sen. Ted Cruz returned to Texas following a whirlwind week in Washington that saw an end to the partial government shutdown that he helped ensure - and for which he made no apologies.

Instead, Cruz blasted his fellow Senate Republicans, saying they are most to blame for the failure of the push to defund or delay Obamacare.Follow @politicalticker

"The House Republicans marched into battle courageously," the first-term senator told the Texas Federation of Republican Women’s state convention on Saturday, "and the Senate Republicans should have come in like the cavalry to support them."

Instead, said Cruz, "a significant chunk of Senate Republicans came like the Air Force and began bombing the House Republicans, our own troops."

Cruz was a leading voice in Republicans push for Congress to reject any funding proposal to reopen the government that did not specifically defund President Barack Obama's signature health care law, the Affordable Care Act. He even spoke for more than 21 hours in a filibuster-like attempt to promote his strategy in the Senate.

Throughout his remarks Saturday, Cruz railed against what he called "the Washington establishment" - people from both political parties who he says are afraid of grassroots movements.

"There are a lot of professional pundits in Washington who go on television and explain that ‘Well, if you stand for anything, it's risky, and we may lose elections in 2014 as a result of this,'" Cruz said, seemingly referring to critics within his own party. "You want to win an election in 2014? Republicans need to stand for principle. And it is the grassroots, organized, that will win elections in 2014."

While Cruz lambasted his critics in Congress, he heaped praise on his grassroots supporters. The effort to defund Obamacare will eventually be viewed as a success, he said, because it energized conservative voters, drew attention to flaws in the health care law and caused Democrats to take "a lot of stupid votes."

He called on supporters to keep up the pressure on their elected officials.

"Nobody said this was going to be easy," Cruz warned. "And nobody should be surprised that the Washington establishment fights back."

Cruz went so far as to tell supporters about the tone of discussion in closed-door meetings, a breach of unspoken congressional etiquette. He accused fellow members of Congress of making back room deals that they don't admit to, claiming that they fear constituents involved in grassroots movements.

"Over and over again," said Cruz, "my colleagues have turned… red in the face, and said: 'My constituents keep calling me!'"

However unpopular Cruz might be in Washington, he maintains significant support from Texas conservatives and was well received at the San Antonio event. He entered to a standing ovation and his remarks were met with cheers of "We love Ted Cruz."

soundoff(339 Responses)

sara

Ted Cruz sacrificed an entire nation with his San Antonio "fans". Veterans and our military as well as the security of a nation was affected for grand standing purposes only. This is about fundraising at the American people expense. You can't have it both ways.....Rafael "Canadian" Cruz. At the end of the day, this was a "fools errand" that has the entire World looking at us as if WE Americans are FOOLS. This fundraising "blitz" reminds me of "SarahPac." She knew she would never run and win the presidency, but continued to fundraise from the midget minds of her "fans". Cruz knew he could NOT defund or repeal Obamacare, but yet took those people's money based on a LIE. I laugh, but feel sorry for his "fans"

October 20, 2013 09:53 am at 9:53 am |

Jack Ranner

Anyone who is a democrat should be thanking him and by no means insulting him. On the contrary, just imagine if he manages to turn the entire GOP into what he represents. He is one of the most incredible self destructive pathogens inside a party that I have ever seen. So cheer this guy on democrats and stop chiding him.

If you could not randomly spat associations of the Air Force and fratricide and just do your job that would be great..

October 20, 2013 10:22 am at 10:22 am |

J. D. Hunter

I'm beginning to think that "The World's Most Exclusive Men's Club" (The U.S. Senate) has lost a lot of fine traditions. It used to be that any first term member was well advised before opening day that he shall be rarely seen and NEVER heard unless invited and coached like a trained dog.

October 20, 2013 10:25 am at 10:25 am |

Kinard

He's doing the bidding of someone high in the republican party. Otherwise he wouldn't be so bold.

October 20, 2013 10:56 am at 10:56 am |

Lynda/Minnesota

"Cruz knew he could NOT defund or repeal Obamacare, but yet took those people's money based on a LIE. I laugh, but feel sorry for his "fans"

Indeed he did. And "they" are quite proud to have been so deceived by him.

October 20, 2013 11:57 am at 11:57 am |

Thomas

What will he read us next from the Floor of the Senate , Bozos Big Top Adventure ?

October 20, 2013 12:06 pm at 12:06 pm |

guerriero33t

@Namerrodger r
It doesn't matter if he was born abroad. His mother was a US citizen at the time of birth so he was naturalized at the time of birth. This rule falls inline with section 301G of the Immigration and naturalization act. His parents and he moved to texas where he lived to meet the rules to attain US citizen ship based on 301G.

Two of my children were born in Germany and I filed paperwork with the Embassy there. My children were giving passports, SSN numbers, and Embassy issued birth certificates.

The same thing goes for Obama. His mother was a US citizen. It did not matter if he was born in Hawaii, China, or Kenya, he is still a naturalized citizen at birth. As long he was moved back to the US within a certain time frame and met the length of residency then he maintains his natural born right.

It would be kind of unfair to move US soldiers and families to foreign bases and consider their children born there not to be naturalized US citizens.

October 20, 2013 01:27 pm at 1:27 pm |

Terry

Mr. Cruz: I cannot believe that you are doing this for Texas nor for the Republicans. I happen to be a registered Republican and people like you and your grandstanding at tax payers expense as well as your convincing other Republicans to follow you is ludicrous. You cost the American people a lot of money. So what makes you stand out due to your inflated ego and your being a billionaire? Is that you are like a child who is a poor looser. Your temperament also needs to be mentioned as you gave heck to other Republicans in the government who did not agree with you. Sir excuse my perception of you, but I think you are acting like a spoiled brat. Your shut down also cost our federal government quite a bit of money. I'm sure you could care less as it is not your money but that of the American people. I agree with Sara that you make the Americans look like fools. You may even be one of those foolish people yourself. Sir , you make me ashamed of the Republican party. By the way, have you taken lessons from George, George W., or Jeb push on how to snow the American people?

October 20, 2013 01:36 pm at 1:36 pm |

Terry

Mr. Cruz seems to me that he wishes to be a dictator. He is not fooling Texas or any other Americans. Is he an extremist? Yes He also has quite a temper, or is play acting by downing other Republican Senators who disagree with him. I am a registered Republican but I am against this TEA PARTY movement within the republican party, It is tearing the party apart.

October 20, 2013 01:54 pm at 1:54 pm |

Anthony in California

Here you go again America, Palin 2.0

October 20, 2013 02:01 pm at 2:01 pm |

IRC

@Guerriero33t
What people are noticing with the Cruz/Canada link is the hypocrisy of some on the right. They deny the eligibility of Obama who was born here and then quickly claim how a favorite of theirs, Cruz, is eligible for president despite being born in Canada. (Which Cruz probably is...)
However, the legal status of Cruz in regards to a future run for president when he has not even announced is almost beside the point at this stage. The quick and collective amnesia about the screaming rants of the "birther movement" not so long ago is just mind boggling.

October 20, 2013 04:29 pm at 4:29 pm |

Steveo

Apparently a bunch of Democrats commenting here are angry at Ted Cruz for being a Republican who doesn't act like a Democrat. You can always tell, whoever the Democrats are trying to destroy the character of, is the person or people that they most fear. Ted Cruz is the anti-Democrat that's for sure. For one thing he is not full of hate and anger like far too many democrats commenting around here are.